Author Archive

Labour MEPs have welcomed today’s High Court ruling against tobacco companies on the eve of new plain packaging regulations coming into force. The court struck down the challenge from four of the world’s biggest tobacco firms, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International, with the… read more →

The European Parliament is expected to vote today for Labour calls for all meat and dairy products to be labelled with their country of origin. Under EU rules, it is already mandatory to label most fresh meat with the country of origin. In the resolution being voted on today, Labour… read more →

Labour MEPs voted today for a report calling for national governments to adopt more family friendly policies and to fully implement the parental leave directive. The report – which Conservative MEPs voted against – seeks to modernise parental leave provisions throughout the European Union, and calls on EU countries to… read more →

Labour MEPs will vote tomorrow in favour of greater corporate transparency and tougher action on tax dodging – proposals Tory MEPs voted against in committee. The vote comes as David Cameron hosts an anti-corruption summit in London, with the government claiming to have “led the way on tackling tax evasion… read more →

“Unelected bureaucrats!” “Democratic deficit!” These are phrases that are often thrown around in the debate about the upcoming EU referendum. However, the myth that the EU is a sprawling mass of bureaucrats lacking any democratic legitimacy, is just that: a myth. EU decisions are made by the Council of Ministers… read more →

The European Parliament will this week call on the European Commission and EU ministers to block full Market Economy Status (MES) for China unless it stops dumping cheap steel on to the market. On Thursday, MEPs from across the political spectrum are set to unite to vote for a resolution… read more →

Labour MEPs have welcomed the International Criminal Court’s announcement of an initial investigation into the violence that has taken place in Burundi since April last year. In the past year more than 400 people have been killed, thousands arrested and more than 260,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries fearing… read more →

Labour MEPs today reiterated public services must be safeguarded in any EU-US trade deal and called on the US to match the EU’s level of transparency, following the latest leak of documents on the TTIP negotiations. The transparency of the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) negotiations has been vastly… read more →

European Investment Bank announces £50.5 million to support the building of 11 new schools for 7,000 students. Construction at eleven new schools is being supported by the European Investment Bank to the amount of £50.7 million – representing 40% of the overall project cost. The new schools will be built… read more →